Not much pari-mutuel love was given to Moonwriter in Monday’s $8,500 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers, but that didn’t stop the veteran from posting a 31-1 upset for the tandem of driver Marc St. Louis, Jr. and trainer Colin Johnson.
Starting from Post 7 in the eight-horse affair, Moonwriter got away fifth in the early going while Walter Mitty sprinted to the lead and hung up the opening quarter in :28.1. Race favourite Rootin Tootin took on the leader, and they proceeded to battle through middle panels of :56.2 and 1:25.2.
Moonwriter swung out to catch cover at the half, and he then made a three-wide move on the way to the three-quarter pole. He used a :30.2 closing quarter to win by two lengths over Walter Mitty in 1:56. Jewels Dragon was third.
Debbie Element of Rockwood, Ont. owns the eight-year-old son of Sportswriter-Carolina Moon. It was the third win of the season for the 22-time winner who upped his lifetime earnings over $370,000 with the victory.
Queso Relleno quarter pole-moved to the lead in the $9,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3, and that move proved to be the winning one for the three-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar-Hay Macarena.
Paul MacKenzie got away second with the Blake MacIntosh trainee while Ladylike shot to the top and carved out the opening quarter in :28. Queso Relleno hustled her way back to the lead and proceeded to chop out middle fractions of :58 and 1:27.4. A :30.1 final quarter was enough for Queso Relleno to win by a pair of lengths over Lifelong Dream in 1:58. Ladylike took home the show dough.
Hutt Racing Stable, Blake MacIntosh, Sue Vernon Smith and The Flanagan Sisters share ownership on the seven-time winner who has put together a 3-4-1 record from 14 trips to the track this season. She’s banked more than $130,000 to date.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.